Improvement in cigar-presses



- STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

FERDINAND SYOBODA AND FRANZ LUXA, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN ClGAR-PRESSES- Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 161,715, dated April 6, 1875; application filed March 6, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FERDINAND SVOBODA and FRANZ LUXA, of Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cigar-Press; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

The invention relates to a cigar-press designed to be employed in pressing cigarbunches between their molds.

The invention consists in a bed-piece or base, an upright screw-shaft from the middle of said base, a jaw or frame traveling upon said screw-shaft, a hand-wheel or lever attached to a nut, whereby the said jaw or frame is made to travel up or down and whereby pressure is imparted.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine embodying the invention, with the cigarmolds pressed between the jaws. Fig. 2 is a separate view of the machine itself.

A is a cross-piece at the base between or beneath two supports, B. O is a shaft rising from the said cross pieceA, midway between the two supports B. The shaft 0 is screw-cut along its upper portion, as shown. D is a cross-piece between or above two side pieces, E. F is a hand-lever nut. Its lower portion has an annular groove, f. G is a collar attached to or projecting from the cross-bar D. g is a setscrew or set-screws which project through the collar G into the annular groove f, and thus connect the cross-bar D with the hand-lever nut F, so that the nut can be readily turned and made to traverse up and down the shaft 0, while the cross-bar D and the side pieces E, which form the upper jaw, do not turn, but are carried with the nut. H represents cigarmolds of an ordinary form, and are each made in two pieces, between which any number of cigar-bunches are arranged, side by side, in suitable cavities.

To use the machine, the operator begins by separating the jaws of the press to the required distance. He then builds up the molds H in block-house form first, by putting two or more of the said molds H across the pieces Bthat is, from one piece to the other; then puts two or more molds across the first layer at right angles to the same, and so on, until he has placed in the machine a desired quantity of molds, taking care to erect the series in vertical columns. He then runs down the upper jaw until it reaches the mold, and, if not already in position, he adjusts it so that the said pieces E will rest at right angles to the top layer. The pressure is then communicated by the hand-lever nut F. Should there be any slight inequality in the molds, the vertical shaft and the jaws yield sufficiently to conform thereto. So, also, the pressure is exerted centrally of the entire mass, an advantage not possessed in presses where the pressure is exerted upon the sides of the mass, and not centrally.

In the former case-namely, where the pressure is exerted on the sides of the massthe effect of ,inequality or unequal pressure would be to bulge out the series of molds, thereby causing, at least, delays, as well as damage to the molds and their contents, besides failing to exert a uniform pressure. The same difficulty exists wherein pressure is exerted by a screw which presses on the center of the upper jaw. In that case, also, should there be any inequality in the molds, or should the pressure be exerted a trifle away from the central line of the pile of molds, the effect would be to cause them to bulge out on that side where the pressure is least.

This invention is designed to overcome these difficulties, by the shaft extending from the base through the center of the pile. It will be seen that with such a draft upon the upper jaw,that is, a draft from belowthe pressure will necessarily be uniform, and the difficulties due to bulging are avoided. The arrangement, also, of the molds in block-house form, between the jaws of the press, permits a free circulation of the air to assist in drying the bunches. It also admits of erecting the molds with two in a layer only, or permitting any desired number of molds being placed in a layer, and in either case the pressure is exerted along the corners where the columnis solidthatis, where there are no spaces between the different layers.

The new features to which claim is made are- 1. The cigar-press, consisting of a lower frame or platform, an upright central screwshaft, a movable jaw traveling upon the said central'screW-shaft, and a hand-lever nut for causing the said movable jaw to traverse up and down the shaft, and whereby pressure is transmitted, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, with the cross piece A and the side pieces 13, vertical shaft 0, and the crosspiece D, side pieces E, and handlever nut F, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. The combination, with a press, constructed substantially as described, of the cigarinolds H, arranged between the jaws of the said press in block-house order, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FERDINAND S VOBODA FRANZ LUXA.

Witnesses:

FRANCIS TOMNEY, '1. B. HALL. 

